That is happening with UCLA basketball, thanks to Howland. Already he has locked up highly touted forwards James Keefe and Marco Spica and is wooing junior center Kevin Love out of Oregon. More recruits surely will be lured by the unmatched basketball tradition of UCLA, especially with a coach who has proved he is more than capable of perpetuating it.

Also, recruits in Southern California will be less likely to defect to places like Arizona and Duke when they see there is a basketball power right in their own backyards.

When Harrick won his championship in 1995, there was no corresponding buzz. In fact, if the Bruins were to lose Monday night, the program will still receive more of a boost than it did when Harrick’s kids, led by Tyus Edney and Ed O’Bannon, beat Arkansas for the title.

Harrick’s problem had more to do with his image than his coaching ability. Certainly the man could coach. He did a commendable job at Pepperdine, where he led the Waves to four NCAA tournament appearances and was conference coach of the year four times. He also led Rhode Island and Georgia to the NCAA tournament after he left Westwood. But his tenure at Georgia ended abruptly because of various recruiting and academic shenanigans.

That was Harrick. He was always perceived as somebody who wasn’t quite up to the job, even if he could do the job.

Slideshow   The Week in Sports Pictures A kayaker flips out, a racehorse eyes the Triple Crown and more. more photos

None of that is an issue with Ben Howland. There hasn’t been a hint of scandal. There hasn’t even been a peep of dissatisfaction among talk show hyenas. It’s hard to argue with his results.

The UCLA Bruins are back on top, thanks to Howland.

Move over, Duke.